Diving-bell.



W. D. SlSSON.

l lDIVING BELL. `APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26,1912. 1,134,963.

HENEWED JUNE 22,1914.

Patented Apr, 6, 1915'.

8 SHEETS-:SHEETI W. D. SISSON.

DIVlNG BELL. APPLICATION man oc.'26.1912. R'ENEwfDzuNE22.1914.

1,134,963. Patented' Apr. 6, 1915.

8 SHEETS--SHBET 2 W/TA/f. ZNVENTOR W. U. SISSDN.

DWING BELL. APPLlcAxonflyso ocr. ze, m2. nfnews'mi 22% 112m PatentedApr. 6, 1915.

snnn'rmm 4 fN/ZNTQE.

SY l

-TTQENEY W. D. SISSGN.

DIVING BELL.' "AVPPLICATION FILED OCT-26, I9I2 IIENEWED JUNE 22, 1914.

1,134,963. Pateneapr. 6,1315;

W, D. SISSON.

DIVINGBnELL. APPLICATION FILED 00.11.26 1912- RENEWED IUNE 22,1914.

1,1 34,963., Patented Apr. 6, H315L 8 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

jg W #if W. D. SISSON.

DIVING BELL;

APPLlcATloN FILED ocT.26,1912. RENEWLD luNE 22.1914| 1,1 34,96% PatentedApr. 6, 1915.

B SHEETS-#SHEET 8.

TTOHNE'Y WILLIAM DAVID SISSON, O F LINNTON, OREGON.

DIVING-BELL.

Specication of 'Letters Patent.

Application led October 26, 1912, Serial No. 72??,936. Renewed June 22,1914. ,Serial No. 846,700.

r soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Linnton, in thecounty of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented vvcertain new anduseful Improvements in Diving- Bells, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement in diving bells and has for itsobject to provide a diving bell for use in deep water in raising sunkenships.

A further object is to provide such a de-v vice which may be attached tothe side of a metallic vessel and held thereto by the use of magneticforce.

A still further object is to provide means for the manipulation of thedevice, whereby it can be moved'as desired along the surface of thevessel.

A still further object iste provide a means by which the bell isemployed to attach a pontoon to the side of a sunken vessel.

These and other objects are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional sideelevation, with weight attached. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on theline c-c of Fig. 1 looking forward. Fig. 3 is a detail end view of aclutch and shifter. Fig. is a detail side elevation of same. F ig. is afront elevation of the device, showing magnets and lnagnet beams, withmeans for manipulating them. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of same showingthe manner of attachment and operation of the magnet beams. Fig. 7 is asection on the line A-A of Fig. 5, looking downwardly. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of a sliding member for carrying the magnet beams. Fig.9 is a section on the line B-B of Fig. 5, looking downwardly.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation showing the operating gearing. Fig.11 is a sec tional view through the anchor magnet. Fig. 12 shows ananchor hook fixed in the side of a vessel. Fig. 13 is a front elevationof an anchor hook. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line D-D ofFig. 1. Fig. 15 is an end view, partly in section, of a pontoon, showingan incased motor, and magnets attached. Fig. 16 is a plan view of apontoon. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the diving bell. Fig. 18 is a detailof the lens commanding the point of the drill.

Referringto the drawings in detail, 1

lsupport its corresponding designates the body of a diving bell cast inspherical form of sufficient thickness to resist the pressure of deepwater, and of dimensions to accommodate one or more operators, withtheir equipment..

2, is an eye to which a cable may be attached for raising and loweringthe bell.

3 are observation lenses suitably incased in the packing 4 in ports inthe bell casing, disposed at 90 degrees apart. lVithin the casing at theupper side is lixed a motor 5, to 'which is connected air pump 6 for thepurpose of 'expelling the foul air through the tube 15, Fig. f2, inwhich is arranged a. controlling valve 16.

7 is an air pressure gage to denote the pressure of airwithin the bell.

8 is a compass..

9 is a bevel gear fixed upon the shaft 119, and meshing with it is agear 10 on the upper end of shaft A which carries upon its lower end asimilar gear 32 meshing with gear 30, loosely mounted on shaft 37.

11 is a bevel gear fixed adjacent gear 9, on the shaft 118, and itmeshes withgear 10a fixed at the end of shaft 23 which carries at itslower end a gear 32W meshing with another gear 30, which also is looselymounted on shaft 37. .i bearing 12`is provided on each of the shafts Q3and 24 to gear 10UL and 10; and a similar bearing 33 supports each gear32.' The gears30 are arranged to face each other and between them is aclutch 36 movable into engagement with either gear, by means of lever 31pivoted uponthe floor at 31, and having a handle 35.

13 designates electric wires carrying electricit;7 for power, light andtelephone service, Fig. 2.

14, Fig. 18, represents electric lights, one being arranged oppositeeach lens 3, to

e direct the light upon the objectivepoint.

17 designates a spur gear fixed upon spindle 1S, supported in bearing18a, which gear is driven by shrouded pinion 168, which is slidablysecured on they feather 167 on the shaft 21 so as to turn with saidshaft. Upon said shaft Q1 is fixed a gear '19, which is driven by pinion26 which is fixed upon the drive shaft 26a which in turn is driven by amotor 25.

Q() is a switch board fixed at a convenient point on the lateral wall`to which the wires 13 lead.

is a hand wheel (see Fig. l1) carried by retreated apr. e, isis.

srew es,A which is threaded in the Samet of the magnet core 58, carryingthecoil 58%,

Awhichv is connected by means of electric caadapted to b e'- turned by aWrench to drive,

ble 465 with the switch board 20. 27 'represents a flooring in 'thelower portion of the spherical bell.

28, Fig. 1, is a lever for shifting clutch 153, onthe. drive shaft 26,into and out of engagement with pinion 152 meshing with gear 144, fixedupon shaft 151 carrying pin-v ion 150' meshing With gear 143Vcarriedupon shaft 148 operatingin bearing 1 47 in the shell of thebell, Which is protected by thrust 'collars 140 and 141. Upon theterminal of the sh *t is fixed the propeller'146.

129.ijs a tube secured vin anaperture in the .bottom of theshell'bymeans of flange 29a, 'in the upper end of which is a packing gland 155,Within Which-operates the shaft of screw 156. The upper end 154 of theshaft is the screw 15.6,..upon the spindle 157 which bears uponthe'inner ends of pawls 159 pivoted upon pins 158, thereby firmly,securing them against the upper `face of cavity160,

i ofthe shell 162, carrying the Weight 161.

41 isa pontoon (Figs. "l5 and 16) or cy'- li'ndrical vessel, made.preferably ofboilery plate, and .carrying adjacent one end, brack- -ets42 and 5.2'and at the otherl end similar brackets 42a and 523,' to eachof which is attached .a inagnet 53. 48 is a casing inclo'sing each of-said magnets protecting them from the -action of the Water.

44a indicates the' side of a vessel to Which the pontoon maybe attachedby the-magnetic force.- Y

. 43 are electric cables leading to the generator' on the tenderlshiponl the surface..

45 is a similar cable leading from'the generator through the shell v41to the motor 54, the purpose of which is 'to operate the pump 5 0 todischarge the Water carried in the pontoon through discharge valve 49.

46 is a valve which may be opened to. admit Water through aperture 47for the purpose of sinking the pontoon. 48 are stay braces for.sustaining the casing. 51 is a spherical casing inclosing the mo- `tor54. The casing is provided with suitable packing glands about the shaftleading from the motor to the pump 50.

are eyes secured tothe lower side of the mageos hook 57".""(See'Fig.12.) '4 Formed upon. the

body 'of the 'hook'.s a conical male section 59 adapted to tit in thecorrespondingly formed opening 59%*y in the core 58. rlfhe tel.-

minal of the anchor is pointed at 61'to of a vessel. At a suitable pointWithin the point 61 is fixed a pin 62 carrying latches 63 which are.adapted to. swing inwardly on said pin, in a longitudinal aperture inthe hook. Between the free ends of said latches is -liXed another pin 64carrying a spring 6() 'which bears upon the latches pressin themoutwardly. It allows the hook to serted inthe aperture and When thelatches clear the hull they will be forced outwardly to engagethe innerface of the Wall` of said 68, held in place by the gland 72.

7 3 and 74Iare fixed collars to prevent rela'- .tive longitudinalmovement of the screw.

75 is acasing which incluses the gear 76 mounted on shaft 165 whichcarries at its outer end bevel gear82, which is held there- 77. is arack fixed upon sleeve 79 which is caused by gear 76 to movelongitudinally with reference to the casing, in groove 77, but which isliXed, with reference to spindle 18, by means' of` collar 1.66.

' '78A is a casinginclosing said sleeve and securing same in an'aperturein the shell. "8O is a packing about the shaft 1 65 and it is held inplace by the' gland-81. (See Figs. land14.)

84, Fig. .11, is a bevel gear meshing with gear 82 and fixed uponvertical shaft 88 supported in' bearing 85 and held in 'place-by collar86. 87 is a lever pivoted at 89 Which engages clutch 90 which is adaptedto slide upon shaft 88 into and out of engagement With Worm gear 93,which is loosely mounted on said shaft bearing in the base 94.

vadapt it to enter an aperture in the hull 44 91 is a Worm meshing'ivithand operating I the gear93 and it is mounted in the bear- .-ing 92.

495, (see Figs. 6 and 7) is a heavy vertical bracketvfixed to one sideof the shell near the lower portion of the shell. lt is. provided Withan internal T-groove 95a to .slid- 102 is a boxing provided with avertical rectangular opening 102 to receive the verrae ably receive theT 95h projecting from the'- .horizontal beam 99.

tical beain 103. Transversely in this block is 130.

lugs 114 bear.

formed a T-groove leaving at ach side a tongue 102b adapted yto bereceived bythe correspondingly formed groove 101 of the beam 99. pon therear side of this beam is formed bearing in the bracket 95.

'.In the open space betweenthe lateral members of the beam 103 ismounted the shaft 105 having the feather 9G upon which is slidablysecured a pinion 104, which meshes with rack 131 xed upbn the horizontalbeam 99, (see Fig. 5).

97 and 109, Figs. 7 and 10, are bearings in the channel -of the lowerbeam 99 which carry the shaft 100. 98 is a gear fixed upon said shaftand meshes withvertical rack 106,

fixed upon beam 103. Toward the opposite end of shaft 100 is lixed apinion 111, (see Figs. 5 and 9) meshing with rack 117 fixed upon beam116, and at the endxof said shaft is fixed a bevel gear which' engagespinion 10S which is slidably secured upon the shaft 128 havingr afeather and key ways, mounted in. suitable bearings in the channel ofbeam 116.which is rigidly fixed upon brackets 120.' At the upper end ofshaft 128 is fixed a bevel gear 11Sa meshing with gear 122 fixed uponshaft 118, which eX- tends into the shell and carries upon its inner endthe gear 11 meshing with gear 10a carried on the upper end of shaft 23,which connects with the drive shaft 37, `as above described.

114, (see Fig. 9) are lugs cast on the front face of beam 99 so as toform a T- slideway to receive the beam 116 having the lateral grooves,in which the tongues of Adjacent the shaft 118 is mounted in thesame'beam the parallel shaft 119 extending through the shell into thebell. On its outer extremity is fixed bevel gear 124 meshing with gear125 carried at the end of shaft 127 supported in bearing 126 within thechannel of beam 99. At the opposite end of shaft 127 is carried bevelgear 129 which is slidably connected thereto by means of a feather andwhich meshes with bevel gear 130 at the upper end of shaft 105.Contiguous to gear 130 is fixed -pinion 104, on said shaft, whichengages rack 131X which is fixed on the stationary beam 99C. At eachside, toward the top, of the bell is fixed a bracket to which the upperbeam 99c is rigidly7 secured. At the lower left side, when lookingtoward the front of the machine is fixed another bracket 120, to whichthe lower end of beam 116 is rigidly fixed, the upper end being fixed tobeam 99C. The vertical beam 116. and bracket 95 act as guides for thevertically movable beam 99, and beams 99 and 99c act as guides for thehorizontally movable beam 103, beams 99 and 103 both being slidablymounted in the block 102. Beams 99C and 103 are slidably connected by atongue and t'he vertical T-projection 95h,

and 116, shown in Fig. 9.

121 is a drill held in the socket 167 of the drill spindle 18.

132 are bolts whichsecure the closure plug 133.'

142 is a steering wheelfixed upon. shaft 135, bearing in the gland 134in the casing which is provided at the outer side with a thrust bearing136.

13T is a bracket sustaining shaft 135 and groove arrangement, the sameas beams 99 the vertical shaft 135 which carry the interl Y meshinggears 138 and 139 respectively.

The shaft 135a bears at its lower end ina` bracket 135" and carries therudder 145,

lwhich is operated by the steering wheel 142. T he device will besuitably equipped with.

air hose and tanks 'for containing liquid oxygen and all usual equipmentneeded in submarine vessels.

The primary 'purpose ofv the machine is to locate sunken vessels, whichmay vbe done by moving within the radius permitted by the limitsuspendinguit fromy the vessel above. Itis then intended yto attachpontoons to the vessel, to raise it in the following manner: rl`hepontoon will have been lowered by being attached to the magnets of thebell, to a suitable' point at the side of the ship, and upon a'signalthe tender ship will switchA the current upon the pontoon and attach itto the hull by means of .its magnets 53, as seen in Fig. 1.5. The divingbell will then be detached by switching the currents from its magnets,and moved to a. suitable point below the pontoon within ranOf'e of theanchor hooks 57- which will be suspended at properintervals therefromwith the conical 'section 59 .standing always toward thecores The bellwill then be attached to the vessel b v-the force of its magnets,andahole -will be drilled in the hull ly means `of drill 121 operatedbythe motor 25. The hook 5T will be attached to the magnet core 58.which extends from a point adjacent the drill, by moving the coreopposite the cone The bell will then be moved either vertically orhorizontally until the point @lof the hook'stands opposite the drillhole. The hook will then be inserted by means of the screivv 68 operatedh v the hand wheel The movements of the bell are accomllt] 'lla

plished as follows: lf it is desired to move vbeam 103 to assume theapproximate relative position shown by the dotted lines 103 in theopposite l upward,A the magnets on the beam 99 Will To move the bell tothe left, it will be necesvbe rele,ased.`, The clutch 36' will then betotiavel upward Von as -indicated at 9,9".

, shell, pawls pivoted to 'engaged with shaft 23, which connects withshaft 118, which in turn drives shaft 128, causing shaft 100, carryingpinions 98 and -111, to revolve, thereby causing beam .99 the rac-ks 106and 117, T he current will' then be turned on the magnets/of the beam 99lining it to the hull. The current vvill then be released from themagnets on the other beams. Then by reversing the current' in the motor,lthe shaft v100 will be rotated in the opposite direction causing thebell to rise. In this manner the bell may be quick/ly' moved in anydesiredv :direction about the hull for the purpose of applying the drillor for engaging and insertingthe anchor hooks. y

That claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersl3atent, is-

1. A submarine vessel comprising a spherical shell having a man holetherein,

a Watertight' doorY fitted in the man hole,

Xed in the wall of theobservation lenses. shell, a tubular steindepending from `the the lower end thereof adapted to engagea.n`,eXternalbody and ineaiis Within the shell for releasing ,ther

paivls. 4 y

2.A A 'submarine vessel comprising .a shell, equipped with anelectric-system',` sli'dable supports carried upon one side thereof,electromagnets fixed .uponsaid supports for attaching the vessel to, ametallic objectgand means for operating .said supports `for changing theposition of said vessel.. I

-3. A submarine vessel comprising a shell equipped ivith an electricsystem, supporting beams arranged in the saine plane upon one side ofthe shell, electromagnets fixed upon said beams for attaching the shellto ametallic object, means for independently energizing said magnetsanli means for manipulating the beams carrying themag- I nets forchanging the position of the shell fixed upon the shell, vertical beamlifted to the shell and to the` horizontal beam, a horizontal and avertical beam slidably sccured to each other and to the firstinent-ioned beams, magnets iiXed upon each of said beams, vmeans forindependently energizing the magnets of each beamand means forindependently changing the relative positions of the slidable beams. v

6. Aisubmarine vessel comprising a shell 'equipped with an electricsystem, vmeans for )reserving it upright.l a. horizontal .beam '.liXedupon the shell, a vertical beam iixed l to the 'shell and to thehorizontal beam, a

. horizontal and vertical,y beam slidably secured to each other and' tothe iirst mentioned beams, magnets iixed upon each of said'beamS, meansfor Vindcpeii-,dently energizing the magnets of the different beams, andmeans orindependently changing the relative positions. yof the slidablebeams, whereby the shell may be caused to move in;y a vertical orhorizontal direction.

In )testimony whereof I afliX my signaw ture 'in presence of tivoWitnesses.

WILLIAM DAVD SISSON.

Witnesses l s E. E. Hiliciiniz'r, Hazan A. AiiirsinoNG.

